Greenfield Passes First Reading of Zoning Ordinance Change

By Shannon Taylor, Editor

An ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance was passed on the first reading. This ordinance was changed due to a few things that needed to be addressed. The issues concerned were travel trailers, recreational vehicles, and vehicles people were living in, tiny houses and accessory dwellings. 

In the section regarding occupied travel trailers and recreational vehicles, the current ordinance does not clearly state where residents can both have and not have these. These are only allowed in B1 districts. Unoccupied travel trailers and recreational vehicles are not included in this update. A provision allowing temporary occupancy of these travel trailers/recreational vehicles in the event of a destroyed residence or a visitor to the person’s home can stay for up to 3 days in the travel trailer/recreational vehicle. 

In the section regarding tiny homes, the ordinance creates a definition of a tiny home and stipulates approximately 8-9 criteria that would need to be met, including a permanent foundation with the same appearance as a standard house. They would be allowed for permitted use in the R2 High Density Residential District, they would be allowed for permitted use. 

In the section regarding accessory dwelling units, a resident located in a residential zoning district as the owner of the property, may have an accessory dwelling unit in the rear yard of their house. 

Tim Belton and Jessica Baker spoke regarding the THDA 2024 Home Grant. “This is a competitive grant of $750,000 over three years,” Belton said.

The grant award will be announced in May and work would begin in July, if awarded. “If more than one person in Weakley County applies, there’s a possibility that money could be split 50/50,” Belton explained. 

“This is to help people in Greenfield with their house and so forth,” McAdams said. 

“We do between three and seven houses. It brings it up to code and remediates lead. That’s the two main focuses of this grant,” Belton said. 

Sealed bids for the Park Pavillion were discussed, however McAdams stated that one did not include the full specs. Specs include the pavilion, concrete and dirt work to get the site prepared. Smith and Nanney bid $87,800 for the entire specs. The board voted and approved to go with the Smith and Nanney bid.

Librarian Kathy Watson retired as Greenfield’s librarian after being with the city for 6 years. “Right now we have twelve applications and that ends Friday and hopefully by the next board meeting, we’ll have a librarian,” Greenfield Mayor Cindy McAdams announced. 

Right now the library has two subs and have been helping out in the meantime.

Youth basketball is up and going, according to Director of Parks and Recreation, Chris Fulcher. Baseball and softball sign-ups will run through to the end of February. “I’m looking to start practicing and getting teams together by the second week of March,” Fulcher said. 

The Greenfield Police Department announced that they would soon be losing an officer. “Derek Bynum just graduated in December 2023 from the academy and put in his two weeks notice,” Interim Police Chief Jeff Mathews stated. 

The Greenfield Fire Department was awarded a $62,500 grant from the State Fire Marshal's Office to buy equipment, a filling station and a cascade system according to Fire Chief Bob Dudley. Dudley requested to sell the old cameras to a department in Kentucky for $1,200, which was approved. The sale of the 1991 Model pumper will be complete Feb. 23 for a total of $30,000 and Dudley stated that he would like to give the Fire Departments side by side brush truck and a trailer to the water and sewer department. 

Dudley stated that they would like to replace that with an expense of approximately $21,000. The board approved Dudley to take bids to present to the board at the March board meeting.

A budget amendment was passed for the clear well due to a price difference of $55,880, which will come out of the water and sewer CD account according to Robert Rodriguez, Director of Water, Sewer & Street Department. The clear well should be completed within the next two weeks. 

The City’s third annual easter egg hunt will be held Friday, March 29 at Greenfield Sports Complex from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be there. 

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Greenfield City Hall or it can be watched from the City’s Facebook page.